Blackpearl Group Limited has announced the appointment of Christie Kerner as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). The move marks a significant step in the company’s US growth strategy, bringing in over 30 years of operational leadership and startup scaling experience to bolster its international leadership team.

Kerner will focus on aligning cross-regional operations, scaling infrastructure, and accelerating Blackpearl Group’s growth in the US, its primary market.

A Strategic Appointment for Blackpearl's US Push

• US Market Focus: As Blackpearl’s main target market, the US requires localized leadership. Kerner’s appointment provides the expertise needed to execute market-specific strategies at scale.

• Operational Alignment: Kerner will integrate operations between US and New Zealand teams, building strong cross-border cohesion to support long-term success.

“We’re sitting on a launchpad right now—my role is to refine our strategies, remove barriers, and shape the rocketship for sustainable growth,” says Kerner.

Leadership That Balances Growth with Execution

Kerner brings a rare blend of experience from high-growth startups, academia, and board-level leadership:

• Former Entrepreneur in Residence, advisor to founders on growth and leadership

• Scaled startups toward $200M+ revenue

• Served as Executive Director of Student Entrepreneurship at ASU, and led its Center for Entrepreneurship

• Board member of StartupAZ and founder of the Founders Collective

“Scaling isn’t just about growth—it’s about putting the right people in the right seats and aligning execution with purpose,” Kerner explains.

Driving a Portfolio Approach to Innovation

Blackpearl Group’s rapid innovation culture is exemplified in the development of Bebop, an AI-powered sales intelligence tool built in just one quarter.

• Bebop delivers SME-friendly sales intelligence, competing with tools like ZoomInfo, Kaspr, and Apollo—at a fraction of the cost.

• Follows the success of Pearl Diver, the company’s marketing intelligence platform that helps businesses reduce reliance on traditional paid ad channels.

“We're not building success around one product—we're building a portfolio of innovative solutions that balance risk and return,” says Kerner.

Poised for Billion-Dollar Growth

With annual recurring revenue (ARR) surpassing $11M, Blackpearl Group is entering its next stage of maturity. Under Nick Lissette’s visionary leadership, and now with Kerner’s operational firepower, the company aims to become a billion-dollar tech player in the AI and martech space.

“Christie shares a belief that's been fundamental to our success: it’s time to stop playing small,” concludes Lissette.